The Path to CNS Officership: Guidance for Residents

Douglas Kondziolka
MD, MSc, FRCS(C), FACS

After five years on the CNS Executive Committee, I was nominated for the Officer position of Treasurer. Many of my residents and fellows have asked how they could get involved in organized neurosurgery and how one could “rise up the ranks.” My own path has been one of the most enjoyable and personally rewarding aspects of my neurosurgical career. I have been asked about this so many times that I thought it might be of value to communicate formally.

After residency, I volunteered to help on the Registration Committee at the CNS Annual Meeting, and later the Sergeant-at-Arms Committee. In 1995, because of my subspecialty interest in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, I was nominated to the Executive Council of the AANS/CNS Section on Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. In 1997, I was asked to serve as the Secretary/Treasurer of that Section. Dr. Bill Friedman was the incoming CNS President, and he was working to put together his CNS Executive Committee (EC), which could include several appointed ex-officio members who would represent different components of our specialty. Bill invited me to join the EC for a one-year term. During that term, I was assigned several tasks. One was to consolidate the various CNS fellowships, and to create a formal application, funding and evaluation process for this quarter million dollar program. Subsequent CNS Presidents Drs. Hunt Batjer and Dan Barrow asked me to remain on the committee in that position, in order to continue the Fellowships program. Dr. Batjer also asked me to re-organize the CNS Publications Committee. Dr. Chris Loftus and I worked on this project, with Dr. Loftus serving as the first chair and I as the second. Leadership of this committee is now typically a 3-year term on the EC. In 1999, Dr. Barrow asked me to serve as Scientific Program Committee Chair for the 2000 CNS Annual Meeting in San Antonio. I previously had co-directed Practical Courses and Luncheon seminars at earlier CNS meetings, and had organized the Radiosurgery Practical Course for a number of years. Leading the SPC was a huge task but was tremendously rewarding. SPC leadership is usually followed by the job of Annual Meeting Chair, which I did for the 2001 meeting under Dr. Issam Awad. At the same time I was asked to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee, and to help direct and conceptualize future projects for the organization. During this period, I also served as Vice-Chair and later Chair of the Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery section, each for two-year terms.

In 2003, I became CNS Treasurer for a three-year term. The previous treasurer, Dr. Paul Camarata was crucial to the transition and has been a great help to me. The Treasurer interacts with all CNS committees and truly works within the broad scope of the organization. At present, I have worked under seven CNS presidents. At the same time, organized neurosurgery both within and outside the CNS has helped to foster some of my closest friendships. The ride requires volunteerism, commitment and effort. The reward far outweighs the work required. For residents, fellows or other younger neurosurgeons, there are many opportunities to get involved. Some include committees that work on the Annual Meeting, Scientific Program, CNS appointees to the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies, Information and Technology, Membership and many others. The CNS Leadership Development Committee is in place to help you on your way. Get involved with enthusiasm and new ideas, and you will be welcomed within organized neurosurgery!